Carter played in various big bands, especially those led by Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Gray.

In 1946, he founded the trio "The Soft Winds" together with Herb Ellis and Johnny Frigo.

[6][7] The latter became the jazz standard and was played by such prominent musicians as Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald,[8] Irene Kral, Stan Getz, and Woody Herman.

After the trio disbanded in 1950,[9] Carter was a sideman for various bands and worked on two of Buck Clayton's studio albums.

[10] Carter also had a side career as a performer of novelty songs, in the persona of "Louie the Singing Cab Driver."